JP2016221017A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing and drying machine including a novel blower fan unit in which noise reduction and improvement in an air blowing amount have been achieved.SOLUTION: A tongue end part 62 of a scroll surface 60 is inclined toward an impeller 52 side, and a gap between the tip of the tongue end part 62 and an outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is made to be narrow. Also, a place from the tongue end part 62 to a final end part 61 is divided into two with a predetermined scroll surface change position 64 being a boundary, and an increase ratio of gap length between the scroll surface and the impeller from the tongue end part 62 to the scroll surface change position 64 is defined as a first gap length increase ratio, and an increase ratio of gap length between the scroll surface and the impeller from the scroll surface change position 64 the to the final end part is defined as a second gap length increase ratio, the scroll surface is formed by having the relationship of the first gap length increase ratio>the second gap length increase ratio.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine capable of washing and drying clothes, and more particularly to a washing and drying machine provided with a blower fan unit.

  Drying clothes with a washing and drying machine that can be performed continuously from washing to drying creates high-temperature and low-humidity air with a blower fan and a heat source, and blows it into the washing tub to raise the temperature of the clothes and remove moisture from the clothes. This is done by evaporating and discharging the evaporated water out of the machine.

  And, as a method of removing the evaporated water, there is an exhaust method (always supplying fresh air) as it is out of the washing and drying machine, and a dehumidification method (cooling the evaporated water to condense and removing the moisture to remove the same air). For home use, a dehumidification method is rarely used in which moisture is not released into the room where the washing / drying machine is installed.

  In a washer / dryer employing this dehumidifying method, a blower fan unit for circulating dry air is built in the casing of the washer / dryer. The blower fan unit includes a blower fan and heating means using, for example, a positive temperature coefficient thermistor element, and various technical proposals have been made to efficiently heat air.

  For example, there is a blower fan unit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-45512 (Patent Document 1) as a blower fan unit of a washing and drying machine that can perform continuously from washing to drying. According to this, it is set as the structure which operates a ventilation fan unit during drying operation and blows heated air in a rotation tank. In addition, although this patent document 1 has shown the drum type washing-drying machine, the same structure is employ | adopted also with the vertical type washing-drying machine by which the washing tub is arrange | positioned vertically.

JP 2011-45512 A

  By the way, in the ventilation fan unit used for this kind of washing and drying machine, the scroll type centrifugal ventilation fan is used, and the design of the impeller used for this ventilation fan is important. The impellers that have been designed to have appropriate dimensional specifications are shared so that they can be used for other models in the series. Thereby, the product unit price of the blower fan unit is reduced.

  However, when a blower fan unit is newly manufactured, the outer shape of the fan casing in which the impeller is housed may be reduced due to the demand for downsizing and the limitation of the installation size in the washing machine. For this reason, the clearance gap between the outer peripheral surface of the shared impeller and the scroll surface formed in the fan casing narrows, and the malfunction that the noise based on disturbance of an air flow became large generate | occur | produced.

  According to the study by the inventors, in order to reduce such noise, the outer diameter of the impeller is designed to be small and the gap (= cross-sectional area) between the scroll surface and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is increased. As a result, it has been found that the air flow rectifying effect is obtained and the noise is reduced. Further, if the outer diameter of the impeller can be reduced, it becomes possible to meet the demand for downsizing.

  However, if the gap between the scroll surface and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is increased in this way, the gap between the tongue end portion, which is the start portion (starting portion) of the scroll surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is increased. A new problem has arisen that the efficiency is lowered and the amount of air blown is reduced. Therefore, there is a strong demand for the development of a blower fan unit that can eliminate such problems and can reduce noise and improve the blown air volume.

  The objective of this invention is providing the washing-drying machine provided with the novel ventilation fan unit aiming at the reduction of noise, and the improvement of ventilation volume.

  A feature of the present invention is that the tongue end portion, which is the start portion of the scroll surface, is inclined toward the impeller side to narrow the gap between the tip end of the tongue end portion and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller, and the tongue of the scroll surface. The end portion to the final end portion is divided into two parts, with the scroll surface change position provided at a predetermined position of the scroll surface along the rotational direction of the impeller from the tongue end portion, and from the tongue end portion to the scroll surface change position. The increase ratio of the gap length between the scroll surface and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is defined as a first clearance length increase ratio, and the gap between the scroll surface from the scroll surface change position to the final end and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller When the rate of increase in length is defined as the rate of increase in second gap length, the scroll surface is formed with the relationship of rate of increase in first gap length> rate of increase in second gap length.

  According to the present invention, the gap between the tip of the tongue end and the impeller is narrowed to reduce the decrease in blowing efficiency, and the gap between the scroll surface and the impeller is increased thereafter, so that air flow disturbance is suppressed. As a result, noise can be reduced.

It is sectional drawing of the vertical washer / dryer to which this invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view of the ventilation fan unit shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which removed the front side unit case of the ventilation fan unit shown in FIG. 2, and showed the inside of the ventilation fan unit. It is the perspective view which removed the front side unit case of the ventilation fan unit shown in FIG. 2, and also showed the inner view of the impeller. It is the top view which removed the front side unit case of the ventilation fan unit which becomes embodiment of this invention, and showed the inside of the ventilation fan unit. It is the figure which showed the cross-sectional area change (= clearance gap length) between the scroll surface of the ventilation fan unit which becomes embodiment of this invention, and the conventional ventilation fan unit, and the outer peripheral surface of an impeller.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications and application examples are included in the technical concept of the present invention. Is also included in the range.

  First, the configuration of the vertical washer / dryer will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The outer frame 1 of the washing / drying machine incorporates an outer tub 2 for storing washing water, and the outer tub 2 is supported by the outer frame 1 in a vibration-proof manner. Inside the outer tub 2 is provided a laundry dewatering tub (hereinafter referred to as a rotating tub) 3 for storing laundry to be washed or dried, and this rotating tub 3 rotates into the outer tub 2. It is supported freely.

  The agitating blade 4 for agitating and washing the laundry is rotatably provided in the rotating tub 3, and the agitating blade 4 is rotated forward / reversely during the washing operation and the drying operation. Further, during the dehydrating operation, the stirring blade 4 rotates at a high speed together with the rotating tub 3, and the water contained in the laundry in the rotating tub 3 is dehydrated.

  The washing / drying drive motor 10 drives the stirring blades 4 and the rotary tub 3 to rotate. The washing / drying drive motor 10 uses a DC brushless motor, and this DC brushless motor is vector-controlled.

  The outer lid 5 is provided on the top cover 6 provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1 so as to be freely opened and closed, and the inner lid 34 is provided on the upper part of the outer tub 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. The outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 can be opened, and the laundry can be taken in and out of the rotating tub 3.

  The top cover 6 has a water supply box (not shown) on the front side, and the water supply box supplies tap water or bath water to the outer tub 2. A detergent and finishing agent charging device 35 is provided on the front side of the top cover 6, and the finishing agent is charged between the outer tank 2 and the rotating tank 3 by a charging hose 36.

  The water supply valve 7 is provided at the rear portion of the top cover 6, and the inflow connection portion 8 of the water supply valve 7 protrudes upward through the top cover 6. A water hose (not shown) is connected to the protruding inflow connection portion 8. The discharge port side of the water supply valve 7 communicates with and is connected to the previous water supply box via a water supply hose connected thereto. The outlet of the water supply box 7 is directed between the outer tub 2 and the rotating tub 3.

  A bath water pump (not shown) that sucks up bath water is also arranged at the rear part of the top cover 6, and the bath water pump is connected to a suction hose having a length extending to the bath. A bath water sterilization device for sterilizing bath water is provided at the tip of the suction hose.

  The drying mechanism 9 performs circulation air blowing and dehumidification of drying air for drying the laundry in the rotary tub 3, and the drying mechanism 9 is mostly occupied by the drying air circulation path. The drying air circulation path is connected so as to communicate with the bottom circulation path 20 connected so as to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2, the dehumidification vertical path 21 rising from the bottom circulation path 20, and the dehumidification vertical path 21. The blower fan unit 22 is provided.

  The blower fan unit 22 includes a blower fan and an electric heater 24 as will be described in detail later. The suction side of the blower fan unit 22 is connected to the upper side of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21, and the discharge side is connected so as to communicate with the return connection circuit 25.

  The return connection circuit 25 has an upper bellows hose 23, and is connected to communicate with the upper part of the outer tub 2 via the upper bellows hose 23. The bottom circulation path 20 also has a lower bellows hose 26 and is connected to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2 via the lower bellows hose 26.

  The dehumidifying vertical passage 21 includes a dehumidifying region, and this dehumidifying region exists in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 so as to extend vertically. The drying air rising through the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 is cooled by bath water or tap water supplied to the dehumidifying region, and moisture contained in the drying air is condensed and dehumidified.

  By the blower fan of the blower fan unit 22, drying air circulates in the rotary tub 3 and dries the laundry in the rotary tub 3. In addition, the drying air whose moisture has been condensed in the dehumidifying region is reheated by the electric heater 24 of the blower fan unit 22 and flows through the rotary tub 3, thereby further evaporating the moisture in the laundry. By repeating this moisture removal with circulation of drying air, the laundry is dried well.

  The lower bellows hose 26 is connected to the bottom depression 31 of the outer tub 2, and the bottom depression 31 communicates with the washing water drainage channel 42 and the washing water circulation channel 43 through the lower communication pipe 41. The washing water drainage channel 42 communicates with the lower communication pipe 41 through a drain valve 44, and the washing water circulation water channel 43 communicates with the lower communication pipe 41 through a circulation pump 45 and a foreign matter removal trap 32.

  The drain valve 44 is closed at the time of washing operation and drying operation, and at the time of draining to drain the washing water and at the time of drying operation, the drain valve 44 is opened and the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are washed and dried. Drain outside.

  The suction side of the circulation pump 45 is connected so as to communicate with the foreign matter removal trap 32, and the discharge side of the circulation pump 45 is connected so as to communicate with the washing water circulation channel 43. The washing water circulation water vertical channel 46 connected to the tip of the washing water circulation channel 43 rises along the outer surface of the outer tub 2, extends to the upper side of the rotating tub 3, and is provided on the upper side of the rotating tub 3 to serve as a washing thread waste removing device. Connected to communicate.

  The washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are sucked up by the circulation pump 45 and flown through the washing water circulation water longitudinal water channel 46 and poured into the rotating tub 3 from the washing thread waste removing device. Washing and rinsing are performed while spray water injection by the circulation pump 45 continues, so washing and rinsing are performed with a small amount of water.

  The water level sensor 47 detects the water level of the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2. An air trap 50 is provided near the bottom of the outer tub 2, and an air tube 49 connected so as to communicate with the air trap is provided. A water level sensor 47 is connected to the upper end of the air tube 49 so as to communicate therewith. The water level sensor 47 detects the water level fluctuation in the outer tub 2 to detect the water level.

  Next, the blower fan unit will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. The blower fan unit 22 includes a front side unit case 50, a back side unit case 51, an impeller 52, and an electric heater 24 for heating. A unit case is formed by combining the front unit case 50 and the back unit case 51. An impeller 52 and a heating electric heater 24 are disposed inside the unit case. A PTC thermistor is used as the electric heater 24, and the heater of the PTC thermistor that is long in a bar shape generates heat uniformly over the whole, and heats the air from the impeller 52 that circulates in contact with a large number of fins.

  The front-side unit case 50 and the back-side unit case 51 have a casing portion 54 in which the impeller 52 is disposed and a heater chamber 55 in which the heater 24 is disposed. The impeller 52 is rotated at high speed by a centrifugal fan to send out air. The plurality of blades 56 of the impeller 52 have an arc shape, and the 12 blades 56 are arranged at an equal pitch. The impeller 52 is driven by an electric motor (not shown).

  The front unit case 50 has a suction port 57 and a discharge port 58. The suction port 57 is located at the center of the casing portion 54 so as to face the suction side center of the impeller 52. The discharge port 58 is disposed at the position of the heater chamber 55 on the downstream side of the electric heater 24. The suction port 57 communicates with the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 via a drying filter (drying filter device), and the discharge port 58 communicates with the connection circuit 25 of the drying air circuit.

  The casing portion 54 has a discharge port 59 and a scroll surface 60 is formed. The scroll surface 60 has a final end portion 61 on the rear end side and a tongue end portion 62 on the front end side with respect to the rotation direction of the impeller 52. The tongue end portion 62 is formed so as to be close to the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52, and the final end portion 61 is formed so as to be separated from the outer periphery of the impeller 52. The scroll surface 60 facing the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is formed in an involute shape that gradually expands from the tongue end portion 62 toward the final end portion 61.

  The flow rate distribution of the air discharged from the discharge port 59 due to the rotation of the impeller 52 is in a non-uniform state with a large amount at the final end 61 side and a small amount at the tongue end 62 side. Therefore, in order to make the flow rate distribution close to uniform, a raised portion 63 protruding toward the tongue end portion 62 so as to narrow the discharge port 59 is provided on the final end portion 61 side. The raised portion 63 is located between the final end portion 61 and one end portion of the electric heater 24 and has a shape in which the center facing the final end portion 61 is raised.

  In this way, the discharge port 59 is provided with the raised portion 63 that protrudes so as to narrow the discharge port 59 toward the tongue end portion 62 at the final end portion 61 located on the opposite side of the tongue end portion 62, thereby The air distribution to the heater 24 is such that the final end portion 61 and the tongue end portion 62 are also brought close to each other uniformly, so that the heating range of the electric heater 24 is made uniform as a whole, and drying air is heated well.

  In the washing and drying machine provided with the blower fan unit as described above, when the blower fan unit is newly manufactured as described above, the impeller is stored due to the demand for downsizing and the limitation of the installation size in the washing machine. The outer shape of the fan casing may be small. For this reason, the clearance gap between the outer peripheral surface of the shared impeller and the scroll surface formed in the fan casing narrows, and the malfunction that the noise based on disturbance of an air flow became large generate | occur | produced. And in order to reduce such noise, if the outer diameter of the impeller is designed to be small and the gap length (= cross-sectional area) between the scroll surface and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is increased, the air flow can be reduced. It has been found that the rectifying effect is obtained and the noise is reduced. However, if the gap length is increased in this way, the gap length between the tongue end portion, which is the start portion of the scroll surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is increased, and the blowing efficiency is lowered and the blowing amount is reduced. New challenges have arisen.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a novel blower fan unit that can reduce such noise and improve the blown air volume without such problems is proposed. FIG. 5 shows the inside of the blower fan unit with the front side unit case of the blower fan unit according to the present embodiment removed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the gap length between the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 at a predetermined scroll surface change position 64 along the rotation direction of the impeller 52 from the tongue end portion 62 of the scroll surface 60. The rate of increase has been changed.

  That is, the tip of the tongue end 62 is formed so as to be close to the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52, and the gap length between the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is the smallest at this portion. . Then, with respect to the position where the tongue end portion 62 is close to the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52, the scroll surface 60 is positioned so that the scroll surface 60 after the scroll surface change position 64 is far away from the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52. It is retracted from the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52.

  Therefore, the area of the scroll surface 60 from the tongue end portion 62 close to the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 to the scroll surface change position 64 that is greatly separated from the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is the same as the scroll surface 60 and the impeller. The gap length rapidly increasing region 65 has a large increase rate of the gap length between the outer peripheral surface 52 and the outer peripheral surface 52. Thus, since the tongue end portion 62 has a shape close to the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52, the function is such that a decrease in the blowing efficiency at this portion is suppressed and the blowing amount is increased.

  Note that the scroll surface 60 of the gap length sudden increase region 65 may increase linearly or may increase in a curved manner. In the present embodiment, in consideration of efficiency, the scroll surface 60 of the gap length rapidly increasing region 65 is increased in a curved manner.

  On the other hand, the area of the scroll surface 60 from the scroll surface change position 64 to the final end 61 is a normal increasing area 66 of a normal gradually increasing involute shape. Of course, the clearance length between the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 in the normal increase region 66 is set to be larger than that of the conventional one.

  Thereby, the flow of air is rectified, and noise can be reduced. That is, since the gap length is greatly changed from the tongue end portion 62 to the scroll surface changing position 64, the cross-sectional area is gradually increased to the final end portion 61 on the basis of the increased gap length portion. Thus, noise can be reduced by rectifying the air flow.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, starting from a line segment connecting the center of the impeller 52 and the starting point of the tongue end portion 62 as a starting point (0 °), 0 °, 45 °, 90 °, The cross-sectional area increase rates of 135 °, 180 °, 225 °, and 270 ° were measured in order to compare the conventional blower fan and the blower fan of the present embodiment. The cross-sectional area is obtained from the cross-sectional area = the height in the axial direction of the impeller × the gap length between the outer peripheral surface of the impeller and the scroll surface. Here, the cross-sectional areas at the starting point (0 °) of the conventional blower fan and the blower fan of this embodiment are the same, that is, the gap length is the same. The gap length is equivalent to the cross-sectional area. That is, the cross-sectional area is represented by the product of the gap length and the axial height of the impeller 52, and the axial height of the impeller 52 is the same in any cross-section, so the gap length is equivalent to the cross-sectional area. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the general blower fan, the tongue end portion 62 to the final end portion 61 are formed in an involute shape consistently, and the cross-sectional area changes as shown in the conventional characteristics. The ratio is almost the same, and the cross-sectional area increases linearly.

  On the other hand, in the blower fan of the present embodiment, the gap length between the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 and the scroll surface 60 is set to a large value around 45 °, and the vicinity of 45 ° is set as the scroll surface change position 64. For this reason, compared with the conventional ventilation fan, the increase rate of the cross-sectional area from the tongue edge part 52 to about 45 degrees is large. That is, the region from the tongue end portion 62 to the scroll surface change position 64 is a gap length rapid increase region 65 in which the increase rate of the gap length between the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is large.

  Further, the scroll surface change position 64 to the final end portion 61 are formed in an involute shape to form a gap length normal increasing region 66, and as shown in the conventional characteristics, the cross-sectional area change rate is substantially the same rate, The cross-sectional area also increases linearly. However, in the present embodiment, the gap length rapidly increasing region 65 is continuously formed with reference to the final portion of the gap length rapidly increasing region 65, so that the cross-sectional area is set to be larger by D than the conventional characteristics. It will be. Therefore, since the gap length of the gap length normal increase region 66 is large, the air flow is rectified and noise can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the tongue end portion 62 that is the start portion of the scroll surface 60 is inclined toward the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 so that the gap length between the tip end of the tongue end portion and the impeller is shortened. By making it small, the fall of ventilation efficiency is decreased and the ventilation volume is improved. Further, if the rotational speed of the impeller 52 is increased, the air flow rate can be further improved. In addition, since the outer diameter of the impeller 52 is made small, it is easy to raise rotation speed.

  Further, the gap length is greatly changed from the tongue end portion 62 to the scroll surface changing position 64, and the gap length is gradually increased to the final end portion 61 with reference to the increased gap length portion. The flow can be rectified to reduce noise. In the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the scroll surface 60 and the impeller 52 at the scroll surface change position 64 with respect to the gap length between the tongue end portion 62 that is the start portion of the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52. The gap length between the surfaces is preferably about 2.0 to 2.5 times longer. Here, it is important that the gap length between the tongue end portion 62 which is the start portion of the scroll surface 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller 52 is appropriately determined.

  Further, if the outer diameter of the impeller 52 can be reduced, it becomes possible to meet the demand for downsizing, so that the common use of the impeller can be promoted. In this case, by forming the shape of the scroll surface of the fan casing as in the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the air flow rate and reduce the noise.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

  22 ... Blower fan unit, 50 ... Front side unit case, 51 ... Back side unit case, 52 ... Impeller, 54 ... Casing part, 55 ... Heater chamber, 56 ... Blade, 57 ... Suction port, 58 ... Discharge port, 59 ... Discharge Outlet, 60 ... scroll surface, 61 ... final end, 62 ... tongue end, 63 ... raised portion, 64 ... scroll surface change position, 65 ... cross-sectional area rapid increase region, 66 ... cross-sectional area normal increase region.

Claims (5)

A blower comprising a rotating tub in which clothing is accommodated, a drive motor for driving the rotating tub, a housing for supporting the rotating tub, and an impeller having a plurality of blades for sending dry air into the rotating tub Washing and drying having a fan, a drive motor for driving the blower fan, a scroll surface formed on the outer periphery of the blower fan, and a blower fan unit provided with heating means for heating the air discharged from the scroll surface In the machine
The tongue end portion, which is the start portion of the scroll surface, is inclined toward the impeller side to narrow the gap between the tip end of the tongue end portion and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller, and the tongue of the scroll surface The end portion to the final end portion is divided into two with a scroll surface change position provided at a predetermined position of the scroll surface along the rotational direction of the impeller from the tongue end portion, and the tongue end portion The rate of increase in the gap length between the scroll surface up to the scroll surface change position and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is defined as a first gap length increase rate, and the scroll surface from the scroll surface change position to the final end. And the increase ratio of the gap length between the outer peripheral surface of the impeller and the second gap length increase ratio, the first gap length increase ratio> the second gap length increase ratio. The scroll surface is formed Washing and drying machine for. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 1,
A washing / drying machine, wherein a scroll surface from the tongue end portion to the scroll surface changing position is formed in a straight line shape or a curved shape. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 2,
The gap length between the scroll surface changing position and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller is about 2 with respect to the gap length between the tongue end portion of the scroll surface and the outer peripheral surface of the impeller. A washer-dryer characterized by having a length of 0 to 2.5 times. In the drum type washing and drying machine according to claim 3,
The washing / drying machine, wherein the scroll surface from the scroll surface change position to the final end is formed in an involute shape that gradually expands. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 4,
The scroll surface changing position is formed at a position of about 45 ° along the scroll surface, starting from a line segment connecting the center of the impeller and the starting point of the tongue end portion. .

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